(a)  There is established within the department of health the “controlled substances therapeutic research program.” The program shall be administered by the director of health or the director’s designee. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for proper administration of this chapter.

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(b)  The controlled substances therapeutic research program shall be limited to patients who are certified by a practitioner as being involved in a life-threatening or sense-threatening situation and who are not responding to conventional drug therapies or where these conventional therapies have proven effective but expose the patient to intolerable side effects.

(c)  The director of health is authorized to protect the privacy of individuals who are participants in the controlled substances therapeutic program by withholding from all persons not directly connected with the conduct of the program the names and other identifying characteristics of the participants. Persons who are given this authorization shall not be compelled in any civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or other proceeding to identify the individuals who are participants in the controlled substances therapeutic research program, except to the extent necessary to permit the director of health to determine whether the controlled substances therapeutic program is being conducted in accordance with the authorization.